<h1>Open Space</h1>

<ul>
	<li><a href="/home/schedule#open_space">Open Space Schedule</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.pec.stedwards.edu/" target="_blank">@ St. Edward's University Professional Education Center</a></li>
	<li><a href="http://www.stevenlist.com/" target="_blank">Steven "Doc" List, Open Space Facilitator</a></li>
</ul>


<p>
	The conference starts on Thursday, October 30th with two-days of free workshops given
	by leading practitioners and teachers of contemporary and progressive software
	development tools and techniques, and continues with two days of open space
	beginning on the evening of Friday, October 31st and ending mid-day on Sunday,
	November 2nd.
</p>
<p>
	Open space is a conference format aimed at solving problems and answering questions.
	Open space is an active format where participants organize to shape the conference, 
	present material, lead conversations, and report on their experiences and findings.
	By the last day of the conference, participants will have compiled and published
	a conference report. 
</p>
<p>
	The active and participatory nature of the format makes open space conferences both
	personally and professionally rewarding, often causing participants to often remark that
	open space makes conferences have been the most valuable conference experiences of their
	careers.
</p>
<p>
	Open space is guided by a few simple but powerful principles:
</p>
<ul>
	<li>Whoever shows up is the right group. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
	Whenever it starts is the right time. When it's over, it's over.
	</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>
		An Open Space conference's agenda is decided upon by the conference participants during
		the opening of the event.
	</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>
		You can identify an issue relating to the theme of the conference for which you have
		a genuine passion and for which you will take real responsibility.
	</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>
		Think of powerful ideas that really grab you to the point that you will take personal
		responsibility to make sure that something gets done at the conference.
	</li>
</ul>
<ul>
	<li>
		You may lead sessions, you may participate as an attendee, you may take responsibility
		for capturing proceedings, or you may just hang out in the halls and talk with
		interesting people.
	</li>
</ul>
<p>
	Be prepared to be surprised.
</p>

<div id="facilitator">
	<h2 class="person">Steven "Doc" List, Open Space Facilitator</h2>
	<table>
		<tr>
			<td style="width: 350px; vertical-align: top;">
				<p style="margin-top: 0">
					The Open Space is facilitated by <a href="http://www.stevenlist.com/" target="_blank">Steven List</a>.
				</p>
				<p>
					Steven is recognized as the most prominent Open Space Facilitator in the .NET and Microsoft communities.
				</p>
			</td>
			<td>
				<%= link_to image_tag('steven_list.jpg', :alt => "Steven List, Microsoft Certified Ob/Gyn", :border => 0), "http://www.stevenlist.com", :target => "_blank" %>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</table>
</div>